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The main aim of the study was to assess the recent evolution of cattle breeding in Alpine areas based on the number, quality and price of calves sold at local auctions in the South Tyrol region over the last decade, as case study. In addition, the effect of grazing during dam’s late gestation on calves’ auction quality was investigated to assess whether the inclusion of pasture in Alpine production system has an impact on auction parameters of calves beside its well-known positive effects on cattle welfare and the environment. Similarly, to other geographical areas, the study revealed that the numbers of crossbred calves (especially from specialised dairy breeds) has increased over the last years also in the Alpine area, because of more targeted breeding plans with an intensive use of beef bulls’ semen. Further, purebred calves from dual-purpose breeds (Simmental, Alpine Grey, Pinzgauer) received a higher remuneration in terms of price and market value at auction than purebred calves from specialised Holstein Friesian and Brown Swiss cows. A part of these animals could be available to support an innovative alpine meat supply chain which, if grass-fed, could further strengthen the current landscape maintenance service provided by the mountain livestock husbandry. Dams grazing during the last 90 days of gestation had a limited negative effect on calves’ liveweight and quality traits at auctions. All these results provide useful technical insights to support the switch from dairy to suckler herd system as future productive alternative for some small-scale mountain cattle farms whose viability is essential for the provision of several ecosystem services in the fragile Alpine environment.

Literature provides indications that the personality and temperament of a horse are sufficiently genetically determined. This background was the impetus to continue collecting phenotypic information on the temperament in the South Tyrolean Haflinger horses, not only to have marketing tools but also to be able to estimate genetic parameters for a future genetic evaluation. The latter should open the possibility to include temperament traits in the breeding goal. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to consider for the very first-time phenotypic information from character testing for estimating genetic parameters for temperament in Haflinger horses. For the present study, data from routine character testing of 210 South Tyrolean Haflinger mares between 2019 and 2021 were considered. A multivariate estimation of heritability (h2) and genetic correlations (r) was carried out for the criteria ‘Interest’, ‘Activity’ and ‘Excitement’. In addition, univariate and bivariate estimation runs were also carried out. The pedigree-based heritability for the behavioural trait Interest was lowest with 0.07 and a standard error of ±0.04. For the other two criteria, Activity and Excitement, h2 was 0.19 ± 0.05 and 0.21 ± 0.04, respectively. The genetic correlation between Interest and Activity and between Interest and Excitement was in both cases negative with −0.52 and −0.61, respectively while the genetic correlation between Excitement and Activity was positive (0.99). Results of the present study highlight the potential of considering temperament traits in breeding of Haflinger horses.

The challenges facing the health sector and the agri-food industry have become increasingly complex over the years. Animal welfare, drug consumption, the use of the slaughterhouse as an epidemiological observatory and biosecurity, as well as the health risks associated with it, are increasingly interconnected, making an integrated approach necessary. Hence the European Commission developed regulations to ensure a certain standard for animal welfare in livestock husbandry, which led the Animal Health and Veterinary Drugs Directorate of the Italian Ministry of Health to design an integrated system called Classyfarm, aimed at categorising farming according to risk. The aim of our study was to consider the protocol of the Classyfarm system for evaluating the present situation in South Tyrolean dairy farming (1) and discuss the practical implementation of this new system in small-scale mountain dairy farming (2) which largely differs from large dairy enterprises in the lowlands. The results provide important insights about farm structure and management. However, in terms of animal welfare the questionnaire of Classyfarm is not able to properly differentiate and therefore results need to be considered with caution. Similarly, the section about biosafety is hardly applicable for small-scale mountain farms due to limited herd size and building capacity. Therefore, authors underline the necessity of developing a further differentiated questionnaire for the Classyfarm system, which considers the peculiarities of small-scale mountain dairy farming and allow proper conclusions regarding sanitary risk for public health unless the long-term aim is that such structure will stop producing which will have significant effects on many other sectors in the region, e.g. tourism.

The aim of the following study was to investigate the effect of dairy production systems, including housing, farm management, pasture access and concentrate supplementation on veterinary diagnosed diseases as well as on administrated drugs in local dual-purpose Alpine Grey (AG) cattle and specialised Brown Swiss (BS) cattle in alpine dairy systems. In the final dataset 916 veterinary diagnosis from 524 cows farmed in 6 low-concentrate Alpine Grey farms (LAG), 9 low-concentrate Brown Swiss farms, (LBS) 11 high-concentrate Alpine Grey farms (HAG) and 15 high-concentrate Brown Swiss farms (HBS) were available for the statistical analysis. The most diagnoses referred to udder health (mastitis, dry-cow therapy) followed by parasite infections and reproduction disorders. In detail, BS had a higher occurrence for mammary infections than AG while HBS farms showed a significant higher incidence for udder diseases compared to all other farm categories. Pasture access had in tendency a beneficial effect on udder health but was detrimental for cows fertility. For latter, special attention should be put on providing sufficient energy supply to grazing animals for avoiding severe negative energy balances and resulting metabolic disorders which reduce fertility. Finally, to reduce the use of antimicrobials classified as highly critical by the WHO in terms of resistance, selective therapies, particularly for mammary infections and dry-cow therapies as well as the inclusion of preventive strategies in every days farm management should be encouraged.Highlights Pasture access has a favourable effect on udder health Selective veterinary treatments for udder infections and dry-off practice should be promoted Brown Swiss cows are more susceptible to mammary infections than Alpine Grey cows

At present, in Italy no systematic recording of diagnostic data for improving animal health and welfare at farm level is available. A first approach towards a health recording system for cattle has been attempted in the Aosta Valley, recording the diagnoses of local Valdostana cattle between 2017 and 2018. The objectives of the present study were: (1) to evaluate the strengths and the critical points of the recording system and (2) to determine the incidence of specific diseases for the year 2018 in Valdostana cows. A standardised key with 69 specific diseases was used by 21 veterinarians for registering the diagnoses in a database. Data were collected from almost 80% of the farms present in the Aosta Valley. The main recorded diseases were those affecting the udder, reproductive apparatus, locomotor system and parasitic infections. Diseases affecting the respiratory and digestive system played a minor role. Since the general data loss through data validation was limited (8.8%), the recording system might be considered as an effective tool for gaining an objective overview of the farm health status. Nevertheless, some diagnoses in the recording system have to be more specified for allowing more precise epidemiologic insights.HIGHLIGHTS A health recording system enables farmers and veterinarians to improve animal health and welfare on farm level. Valdostana cattle show lower incidences for some health disorders when compared with literature data from other dairy cattle breeds. More specific diagnoses for parasitoses and claw disorders could be useful for breeding purpose.

The objective of this study was to compare animal-related figures in milk and meat production and economic revenues from milk and animal sales over the last decade of the five most-common dairy cattle breeds in South Tyrol. Auction prices and milk performance control data were considered to calculate milk sales, animal sales and total revenue per cow of the respective breed between January 2009 and December 2019. Results highlight a stepwise substitution of Brown Swiss breed by Simmental breed over the last decade. This is probably related to the greater animal sales and greater total revenue per cow thanks to the dual-purpose characteristics in latter. No significant trend towards the breed Holstein-Friesian was observed although cows of this breed were shown to produce the highest milk yield (MY) per lactation and generated the highest total revenue per cow. Moreover, the local breeds Pinzgauer and Alpine Grey were able to compete in sense of importance as the number of cows remained mainly unaltered over the last decade. Thus, results indicate that although less productive, in sense of MY, local dual-purpose breeds seem to be of high interest for dairy farming systems in an alpine area as the decision for breeds is obviously not only driven by farm income.Highlights Holstein-Friesian is the most productive cattle breed considering milk production per lactation Simmental breed has a similar milk yield as Brown Swiss breed but received higher auction prices for calves and cull cows than latter Pinzgauer and Alpine Grey cows can compete with other breeds thanks to their dual-purpose characteristics, adaptability to alpine farming systems and additional subsidies

The present study aimed to investigate non-genetic sources of variation of milk production and quality traits of dual-purpose Original Brown (OB) cows farmed in Italian alpine region by using milk test-day records (n = 4034). Except for milk yield and somatic cell count, all phenotypes were predicted from milk mid-infrared spectra and included traditional composition traits, coagulation properties, casein fractions, minerals and fatty acids. Data were analysed using a mixed linear model which included calving season, parity, stage of lactation and first-order interactions as fixed effects, and cow and herd-test-date as random effects. Milk yield averaged 18.07 kg/d and means of fat, protein and casein content (%) were 4.03, 3.40 and 2.68, respectively. Primiparous OB cows produced milk with a greater content of unsaturated fatty acids compared with multiparous. Except for Na, minerals content was generally greater in primiparous than multiparous cows. The comparison with the literature demonstrated that OB cows produce milk with fatty acid profile similar to that of Alpine Grey and with more favourable coagulation properties and mineral composition than Pinzgauer cows. Considering that OB milk exhibited good coagulation properties, a prerequisite for cheesemaking, strategies to valorise this endangered breed should mainly focus on the manufacturing of OB mountain cheeses. In general, results for several milk-related performance coupled with the well-known strong adaptability of the breed to extensive mountain farming systems are the starting point towards the valorisation and potential expansion of this local dual-purpose genetic resource, with the ultimate goal of contributing to its conservation.Highlights Primiparous cows showed greater mineral content compared to multiparous cows. The good milk coagulation properties and high α-CN and κ-CN of Original Brown cows milk are a prerequisite for cheesemaking efficiency. A greater content of unsaturated fatty acids was observed in primiparous than multiparous OB cows.